Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-22
NAPHTHA In THE SEWERS.
ROCHESTER, N. Y, TREATED TO A
FUSllADE OF EXPLOSIONS.

-Four Persons Killed, Twenty Wounded and
Several Mills Burned-Panic In q Ships
Crew Causes Dozen Fatalities-western
Thermometers in Want of Overcoats--
Loss OF Life Reported-Other Mishaps.
ROCHESTER, N Y, Dec 22-Just before
half-past 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon an
explosion of gas took place in the Jefferson and
Clinton -four mills, on Mill street in this city,
and they were speedily enveloped in flames.
The fire department was summoned, and
soon after general alarm was turned in
Before the department had reached the sta
ton at the corner Of Mill and Platt streets
the entire city was alarmed and shaken by a
number of explosions Immediately follow
ing huge columns of smoke arose from half
a dozen points on Mill aud Platt streets, and
flames burst from the windows of the Gin
ton mill, just north Of the Woodbury. Engine
company's building. on Mill street.
The flames soon spread to the Washington
mill, which adjoins the Clinton, and before
any thing could be done to prevent the
spread of the flames the rear of Whitney u
Wilson's mill was in flames. While the1ire
men were laying line of hose to the burn
ing buildings half a dozen man-holes, which
had been covered with ice and snow, blew
up in Mill street
Thousands of people had been attracted by
the explosion, and as they rushed through
State and Plat streets to the scene Of the fire
they were brought to a halt by other ex-
plosions in Plat and State streets and thrown
into confusion. They fed in every direction.
but wherever they went they met with arep-
clifton of the same scene. Tie explosions
continued at such frequent intervals that
there was no telling when they would cease.
The sidewalk Of the Old furnace on Platt
street, between State and Mill was blown
up, but fortunately no one was injured. The
building was already fired, however, and
flames issued from half a dozen holes in
State street, where the street pavement had
been blown up.
By half past o'clock the fire was prac-
tically under control, as far as the mills were
concerned, but the sewer mains were sending
up columns of flame at frequent intervals
Explosions took place in the cellars Of all the
buildings on Mill street. In Congress Hall
hotel cellar one man WIS hurt All along
the other streets ad jacent to Mill explosions
also took place Shortly after O'Clock an
explosion occurred near new sewer, which
is being dug on Atkinson street. Two work
men were thrown violently to the ground
and one as severely bruised. Slight ex-'
plosions are reported to have occurred on
Adams and fremont Streets There was
also al. explosion on West avenue, in front
of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg
station The paving stones were thrown
high in the air Many windows in residences
near the scene of the explosion were broken.
Inquiry at the office of the Municipal Gas
company developed the cause OF the ex-
plosions as follows: Several years ago" it
was stated, "the Vacuum Oil company ran
pipo from its works to those of the Municipal
Gas company in order to supply it with
uaphtha This pipe line runs along the bed
of the Genesee Valley canal, three or four
feet underground. At Atkinson street the
contractors were blasting carelessly, I'M
doubtedly, and in this way the pipe was
broken. The naphths ran down into the out
let sewer through Canal street into Platt,
and from there into Mill street, where it has
caused this trouble. l presume l., 900 or 49,
| Oi0 gallons of napbtha have gone into the
sewers We were informed that our gas was
escaping on Mill street We sent man
that he smelled fresh naphtha. This was the
| first had heard OF the escape. This thing
| teaches that contractors should be more care
/ full in blasting under pipes. The supply of
naphtha was cut off Immediately by the
! Vacuum Oil company, and the gas was at
| once cut off from our pipes
/ When the fremen arrived the flames had
/ obtained such foothold that it was readily
| seen that it would be utterly impossible to
| save the Clinton mill. The next building
! was the jefferson mill, and to this the fire.
| men turned their attention The flames had
| obtained firm foot-hold there however
and soon tiny streaks of fire were seen dart
through the windows About this time the
| front wall Of the Clinton mill fell over with
| loud crash, nearly burying numbers of the
| firemen and spectators beneath it. Shortly
after this another gas explosion occurred
| from the sewer main in front of the mill
| throwing one man ten or twelve feet and
scratching his face severely.
| The losses, so far as can be ascertained on
| the burned flour-mills are as follows: j. A.
| Hinds Washington mill, loss $50 900, insur-
| ance 500 600; Davis & Son, Shawmut mill
| loss $50, 900, insurance $40, Clinton or
| Pool mill, loss $5O, 600, insurance unknown;
| Wells & Co, tool-makers, s., 90, insurance
s6OI; Kingsbury Cracker factory, loss ST.
| 500 no insurance.
The destruction of the mills, it is feared, IS
| but small item, comparatively, as the en-
tire sewerage system of the city. it is be-
| lisved, has been affected, and that section of
/ it connected with the Municipal Gas COM
| pany's and the Vacuum Oil company's works
/ L L.. ~, "A
| The list of casualties is long one, but only
two deaths were reported up to Ii o'clock at
night viz: Frederick Wilson, head miller of
the Whitney mill, aged 80 years, leaving a
wife and two children, and Edward A Web
SER, who died in the city hospital The worst
injured are; Louis Harpt, jefferson mill,
burned about the face and hands and inhaled
gas, recovery doubtful; Aaron Harrison,
| right leg broken by Jumping into the river
from the third story Of building, also in
| jured internally; William Richie, driver for
the Clinton mill left ankle broken and cali
of leg torn open; William o. Wallace, Jeffer-
son mill, badly burned about head face and
| hands
LATER-It is believed that four persons in
all were killed. The additional ones are
Abram Rogers and John Lee The las,
named was employed in the Clinton mill and
ia missing. 1t is supposed that he was burned
to death. Rogers was a millwright and wa.
injured by falling walls. He was taken home
and died Young Wilson was part ownel
In the Shawmut mill, and was killed by fly.
ing stone Edward Webster was looking al
manhols from which the explosions wers
coming when the explosion in the Jefferson
mill happened, burying him under the falling
walls. Ths injured will number at leas
twenty Most Of them are burned and cut
by stones.
TERROR-STRICKeN CREW.
They Break into Panic on . Burning Shil
| Twelve Men Lost.